More Summer Eats

As summer approaches again, I want to share more recipes that I love during the hot days of summer. Check out last years recipes here.

Another favorite for me is my broccoli sunflower seed salad, which I love to bring to pot luck bbq's.

16oz broccoli florets
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 medium red onion, chopped (I cut this back drastically since that's a LOT of onion)
1/2 cup bacon bits
1/2 cup raisins

DRESSING:
1 cup mayo or Miracle Whip
1 tbsp vinegar
1/4 cup sugar

Mix dressing ingredients and then add to the rest of the ingredients. Refrigerate for 4 hours for the flavors to mingle.

I just tried this corn salad from my Real Simple magazine the other night and I love it...

1 cup walnuts
3 cups corn kernels
2 jalapenos, chopped
2 tbsp lime juice
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup feta
Heat the oven to 400 degrees and roast the walnuts for 6-8 minutes. Let cool and then chop. Then combine all the ingredients except the feta. Don't sprinkle the feat on until just before you serve. Don't skip on the lime juice... it really adds an unexpected zip.

Probably my most favorite summer salad is my Greek Pasta Salad. I make this for lunch at least once a week...

4oz. bow tie pasta
3oz. feta
1/2 cup red onion
1/4 balsamic vinaigrette dressing (make sure it is a good quality dressing)
12 Greek kalamata olives pitted and halved
6 pepperoncini peppers sliced
1 med. tomato coarsely chopped
1/2 med. cucumber sliced in 1/4 inch and then quartered

Cook your pasta al dente, rinse and drain. Combine it with all remaining ingredients, and enjoy!

Let me know if you try any of these and what you thought.